Agitating device



Jan 17 1959 A ,j, FREgsQLA 2 4945856 AGITATING DEX/KC;

Filed Aug. 19, 1947 INVENTOR. A Z fwd J 12 255025! AA'T'TORNEK)" Patented Jan. 17, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AGITATING DEVICE Alfred J. Fressola, Bridgeport, Conn.

Application August 19, 1947, Serial No. 769,411

14 Claims.

The present invention relates to an agitating device and more particularly to a device for agitating a liquid in photographic developing and printing trays or tanks.

In the art of photography it is frequently desired to wash or treat the film or prints with developing, fixing or washing solutions and it is necessary to agitate these solutions and cause them to flow over the film or prints in order to secure an even and uniform treatment.

The present invention provides a simple, yet accurate agitating means for causing the liquid to move back and forth in the tank or tray and to be in continuous motion over the film or prints.

In the preferred form of the invention the tray carrying the solution is mounted to be oscillated about fixed horizontal intersecting axes. The oscillating means is driven so as to rock the tank sequentially about each axis in a predetermined timed relation. When the axes are disposed at substantially right angles with respect to one another, this produces a motion in the tank as would be obtained by hand operation, tilting the tank alternately from side to side and forward and backward.

A feature of the invention resides in the novel mounting means for the tank whereby the tank may be readily removed and replaced so that tanks requiring heating may be interchanged with those not requiring heating for the minimum of time.

Another feature of the invention resides in the simple yet effective drive for moving the tray about its fixed pivotal axes in predetermined timed relation.

The device of the present invention is simple in operation and construction and can be cheaply manufactured and assembled.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the specification and claims when considered in connection with the drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a side view of the device with the housing partly in section.

Fig. 2 is a top view, partly in section, with the plate shown in dot and dash lines.

Fig. 3 shows a plan view of another plate.

As shown in Fig. 1, the device comprises a base l and a tank H containing a suitable liquid for treating film or prints. While the tank may be mounted directly on the base it is at present preferred to detachably support it on a plate I2. The plate has resilient fingers I20, releasably holding the tray. This enables the trays to be readily-applied or removed therefrom as required.

The base may take various forms. In the pre- 2 ferred form of the invention it comprises a housing having a topl3, side walls l4 and a bottom member 15 secured thereto by screws l6.

According to the present invention novel mounting means is provided for the plate 12 which enables it to be rocked about fixed angularly related axes preferably disposed at with respect to one another.

This is accomplished by providing the top l3 with slots ll, l8 extending therethrough and preferably disposed at right angles with one another. These slots slidably receive depending tongues I9, 20 pivotally mounted in the undersurface of the plate 12. The tongues may be pivoted to the plate in any manner. One way is to have the tongues formed as one leaf of a pair of leaf hinges with the other leaves l9a, 20a of the hinges secured to the undersurface of the plate l2 so that the hinge pins 19b, 201) form the pivots for the tray.

In the illustrated form of the invention the slots l1, l8 are disposed in spaced relation with the center of the tray as shown in Fig. 2 and as the tray is rocked about each hinge it will move about fixed axes disposed at substantially 90 with respect to one another and will cause the liquid in the tray to move back and forth with a swirling action.

While various means may be provided for rocking the tank plate about the axes, in the preferred form of the invention, the top l3 of the base is provided with a pair of apertures 2|, 22 disposed oppositely from the slots [1 and I8 and carry driving members 23, 24 which are located on the other side of the center of the plate as shown in Fig. 2. These driving members 23, 24 are operated alternately by cams 25, 26 fixed to stub shafts 21, 28 carried in bearing posts 29, 30 on the base 15. The shafts are connected by bevelled gears 3|, 32 and the stub shaft 28 is connected through a reducing gear 33' to an electric driving motor 34 to be operated at a relatively slow speed. 'The present preferred shaft speed is 40 R. P. M. but this speed can be varied as required by altering the reduction gear drive.

As the shafts rotate, the cams 25, 26 carried thereby lift the driving members 23, 24 alternately into engagement with the undersurface of the plate and cause the plate to rock about the opposing pivots [91), 202). This causes alternate tipping of the tray sideways and to the front and back and produces a back and forth swirling motion of the liquid therein.

The plate, since it merely rests on the housing and'is connected thereto by the sliding oonnection of the tongues, can be readily removed and replaced by other plates having similar tongues secured thereto if it is desired to use a larger tray.

If it is desired to keep the solution in the tray at a predetermined temperature, a plate .35 as shown in Fig. 3, may be substituted for plate [2. This plate has tank receiving fingers 35a and a heating unit 36 disposed within the plate. It is preferably an electrical heater unit and a thermostatic control switch 3'! maintains the unit at a predetermined temperature required to keep the solution in the tray at the desired temperature.

If the top of the housing is relatively thin so that the slots and apertures do not produce sufficient grinding surfaces for the tongues and driving elements, the top may be provided with extended guide portions |5a surrounding each of the slots l1, I8 and guide portions |5b surrounding the apertures 2|, 22. These extended guide surfaces insure that the tongues and driving members move in vertical planes in operation. Preferably, as shown in Fig. l the portions [5a, [5b extend into the interior of the housing thus leaving afiat exterior surface on the housing. If necessar one edge of each tongue can be curved asshown. at 20d to enable the tongue to tilt laterally without interference with the guide a as the plate rocks about the opposite pivot,

When the agitator of the present invention is to'be employed in the photographic art wherein acids are used, it is preferred that the exposed parts of the device be made of acid-resistant material.

One inexpensive manner of forming the device is to mold the housing, including the top and sides, as one piece and the bottom member as a separate piece to be secured in place to close the.

housing after the driving motor, gearing, shafts and cams have been assembled thereon. The projecting guide members [5a and I5b for the tongues and driving members may be molded integrally with the undersurface of the top. The plate l2 may be molded and have the pivots for thetongues molded therein. The driving members 23, 24 may be made of rod stock out to the required size. The housing and plate can be molded of acid-resistant plastic and the tongues, pivots therefor and drive members made of acidresistant metal or plastic. From this it will be seen that the device can be readily and cheaply manufactured and assembled.

Variations and modification may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. An agitating device comprising a base; a supporting plate; means mounting the supporting late on the base for movement about a first axis spaced to one side of the center of the plate; means mounting the plate on the base for movementabout a second axis located to one side of the plat and intersecting the first aXis at a substantial angle at a point spaced from the center of the plate; and continuously operated means including gearing and drive elements actuated thereby to alternately apply a driving force to the plate to oscillate said plate alternately about said axes in predetermined timed relation.

2. An agitating device comprising a base; a supporting plate; means slidably carried by the base for detachabl mounting the supporting.

plate on the base, said means including means.

mounting the plate on the base for movement about afirst axis spaced to one side of the center of the plate and means mounting the plate on the base for movement about a second axis located to one side of the plate and intersecting the first axis with a substantial angle at a point spaced from the center of the plate; and continuously operated means for sequentially oscillating said supporting plate about said axes.

3. An agitating device comprising a base; a supporting plate; means pivotally mounting the supporting plate on the base including means spaced to one side of the center of the plate and forming one axis of movement for the plate and means spaced to a second side of the plate and providing a second axis for the plate intersecting the first axis at substantially a angle at a point. spaced from the center of the plate; and continuously driven means acting on said plate and alternately oscillating said supporting plate about said axes.

l. An agitating device comprising a base; a supporting plate; means. spaced. from the center of. the plate for pivotallyv mounting the; supporting plate on the base for movement about fixed axes intersecting at a large angle; and means for oscillating said supporting plate about said axes,

including reciprocating means. engaging the plate in spaced. relation tothecenter 0f the plate and opposite the mounting means; means interconmeeting the reciprocating means for movementin opposite directions; and means to drive the reciprocating means.

5. A device for. agitating photographic developing andprinting trayscomprisinga base; a plate.

adapted to receive a liquid-receiving. tray thereon; means mounting said plate on. saidlbase for movement about an axis spacedto one side of the'plate; means-mounting said plate onthe base for movement about asecondaxis disposed substantially at right angles with respect to the first. axis and intersecting at. a point to one side of the center of the plate; and continuously operated drive means for alternately rocking said plate about the two axes.

6. Adevice for agitating photographic developing and printing trays comprising a base ;\means for mounting a liquid-receiving tra on the base for rocking movement-about a pair. of intersecting, axes including a pivotal mounting atone side. ofv the base providing one axis and. a pivotal. mounting at another side of, the tray providing a secondv axis intersecting with saidfirst axis at a point tothe side of the center of,the tray; and'continuously operated means alternately rocking saidmounting means about said axes to. cause the liquid and thetray to flow back and forth.

'7. A device for agitating photographic developing and printing trays comprising. a base; aplate adaptedtoreceive a liquid-receiving. tray. thereon; meansslidably carried by the base for detachablymounting the supporting plate on the base, said means including means mounting the plate. on thebase for movement about afirst axis spaced to one side of the center of the plate and means.

mounting theplate 0n the base for movement about a second axislocated on another sideof the plate and intersecting. the first axis with a substantialxangle at a: point. spacedfrom the center of the" plate; andmeans acting on.said plateand'oscillating said plate'in predetermined timed relation about said axes, to. cause the liquid in said trays to flow back andforth.

8. Adevice for agitating photographic develop ing and printingtrayscomprising abase; aplate having means for securing aliquidereceivingtray thereto and heating means. thereon. for. heating the liquid in the tray; means mounting the supporting plate on the base for movement about a first axis extending along one side of the plate; means mounting the plate on the base for movement about a second axis located along another side of the plate and intersecting the first axis at a substantial angle at a point spaced from the center of the plate; and continuously operated drive means acting upon said plate and oscillating said plate about said axes to cause the liquid in the tray to flow back and forth.

9. A device for agitating photographic developing and printing trays comprising a base having substantially right angularly disposed slots therein, a plate having a liquid-receiving tray thereon; means for mounting the plate on the base for movement about fixed intersecting :axes comprising tongues pivotally connected to the plate and slidable in the slot; and means for sequentially rocking said plate on said pivotal connection to cause the liquid in the tray to flow back and forth.

10. A device for agitating photographic developing and printing trays comprising a base having substantially right angularly disposed slots therein; a plate having a liquid-receiving tray thereon; means for mounting the plate on the base for movement about fixed intersecting axes comprising hinge members, each having one leaf secured to the plate and the other leaf sliding in the slot; and means for rocking said plate on the hinges in predetermined timed relation to cause the liquid in the tray to flow back and forth.

11. A device for agitating photographic developing and printing trays comprising a base having a pair of right angularly related slot and a pair of apertures disposed in opposed spaced relation thereto; a plate having a liquid-receiving tray thereon; means for mounting the plate on the base with the center thereof located between the slots and apertures, including tongues pivotally connected to the plate and slidable in the slots; and means for rocking the plate about said pivotal connections to cause the liquid in the tray to flow back and forth, including reciprocating members engaging the plate and slidably mounted in the apertures and drive means for reciprocating the members.

12. A device for agitating photographic developing and printing trays comprising a base having a bottom plate, sides and a top provided with a pair of right angularly related slots and a pair of apertures disposed in opposed spaced relation thereto; a plate having a liquid-receiving tray thereon; means for mounting the plate on the top of the base with the center thereof located between the slots and apertures, including tongues pivoted to the plate and slidable in the slots; means for rocking the plate about the pivotal connections to cause thte liquid in the tray to flow back and forth, including reciprocating driving members engaging the plate and slidably mounted in the apertures; and drive means mounted on the bottom plate and disposed within the sides for reciprocating the driving members.

13. A device for agitating photographic developing and printing trays comprisin a molded base of acid-resisting plastic material having a bottom plate, sides and a top provided with a pair of right angularly related slots and a pair of apertures disposed in opposed spaced relation thereto; a plate of acid-resistant material having a liquid-receiving tray thereon, means for mounting the plate on the top of the base with the center thereof located between the slots and apertures, including acid-resistant tongues pivoted to the plate and slidable in the slots; means for rocking the plate about the pivotal connections to cause the liquid in the tray to flow back and forth, including reciprocating acid-resistant driving members engaging the plate and slidably mounted in the apertures; and drive means mounted on the bottom plate and disposed within the sides for reciprocating the driving members.

14. A device for agitating photographic developing and printing trays comprising a base having a bottom plate, sides and a top provided wth a pair of right angularly related slots and a pair of apertures disposed in opposed spaced relation thereto; a plate having a liquid-receiving tray thereon, means for mounting the plate on the top of the base with the center thereof located between the slots and apertures, including tongues pivoted to the plate and slidable in the slots; means for rocking the plate about the pivotal connections to cause the liquid in the tray to flow back and forth, including a pair of reciprocating driving members engaging the plate and slidably mounted in the apertures; and

drive means mounted on the bottom plate and disposed within the sides for reciprocating the driving members, said drive means including a cam for moving each of the driving members, an electrically operated drive device and gearing for actuating the cams in predetermined timed relaion.

ALFRED J. FRESSOLA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 59,325 Wathew Oct. 30, 1866 246,183 Mitchell Aug. 23, 1881 760,664 Van der Valk May 24, 1904 804,935 Duffy et al Nov. 21, 1905 1,330,801 Greenberg Feb. 17, 1920 2,155,596 H-awes Apr. 25, 1939 2,302,804 Schatz Nov. 24, 1942 2,349,028 Wildman May 16, 1944 2,384,898 Dietert Sept. 18, 1945 

